The Wall Street Journal stated in a report this week that Asian component suppliers have started mass production of a new tablet computer that is smaller than the current iPad. It also claims to have received this information from a source on the inside.

The report also states that LG and AU optronics are making the 1024 x 768 7.85-inch display and started production on the component last month.

The iPad Mini is expected to be released sometime this month.

Other technology publications have also reported that the device has already gone into production and should be ready for shipping within the next two months.

The publications include Taiwan's Economic Daily News, who stated that a bulk of the device's production will be handled by the Chinese firm known as Pegatron.

More iPad Mini parts were leaked this week.

The images originated on a Russian-language website called Ukrainianphone.com, who received them from a source who visited a factory in Asia.

An audio jack can be located at the bottom of the device in the picture, which matches up to the new iPhone 5 and iPods. They're also rumored to have a nano SIM tray.

The LCD display resembles the screen found on the Kindle Fire and does not match up to the rumored iPad Mini's 4:3 display. This means that these leaks might not be reliable.

Rumors and leaks related to this Apple device started to surface at the beginning of this year. Some designers have taken the initiative and created various mock-ups of the iPad Mini.

There is also a new video that surfaced earlier this week displaying a mock-up of the tablet, which incorporates all of the rumors into this fake version of the tablet.